Granville Island will be the stage for a conference that focuses on the development of original Canadian works of musical theatre.

The 2013 In Tune Conference, organized by Touchstone Theatre and the Arts Club Theatre Company, takes place at various venues from next Thursday (June 20) to June 28.

Katrina Dunn, Touchstone Theatre’s artistic director, said it can be a struggle to secure support for new musicals, in part because of high development and production costs.

“We have a big impact on the world stage with our plays, but Canadian musicals have never really moved into having the same kind of presence that Canadian dramas and comedies have had,” Dunn, a conference co-curator, told the Straight.

The In Tune Conference, which is returning after its inaugural edition in 2011, shines a spotlight on new Canadian works and fostering more development.

“What we want to do is create an appetite, not just for musicals, but for Canadian musicals so that some of that work is a little bit more relevant to our own culture and also fuelling our own artistic community,” Dunn said.

Scheduled for the conference is a mix of workshops, showcases, panel discussions, and other events, for both the public and industry members.

One highlight is a master class featuring two U.S. theatre luminaries: composer and lyricist Michael John LaChiusa and playwright Sybille Pearson. Also on the program is a cabaret-style event celebrating songs from Canadian musicals, hosted by actor Jay Brazeau.

“It’s discussion plus development, and showcasing some work to add a sense of growing excitement around the really cool buzz of what’s beginning to be a groundswell of what I think will be really great work in this genre in the next 10 years,” Dunn said.